Board prosecutors file petitions called an Immediate Temporary Suspension ("ITS") petition to temporarily and immediately suspend licensees ability to practice their profession. These petitions are typically reserved for Drug Act investigations or sexual assault...
Drug Crimes
Can Pennsylvania doctors prescribe marijuana to their patients?
For the last several years, medical marijuana has been in the national news. While some fear that allowing it to be used in the medical field is a slippery slope to allowing its permissible use by everyone, there is no doubt that for some medical patients marijuana is...
Immediate Tempory Suspension — Do Not Sign Any Document
Doctors beware. Government prosecutors are fighting the opiate epidemic on many fronts. Now more than ever local police in coordination with DEA and Commonwealth Attorney General drug enforcement investigators are investigating doctors for writing unreasonable amounts...
Finishing the PHMP Term — Returning to an Unrestricted Health Care Practice
How do you get out of Pennsylvania's Professional Health Monitoring Program ("PHMP"). The PHMP administers both the Voluntary Recovery Program "VRP" and the Disciplinary Monitoring Program ("DMU"). As a licensed professional voluntarily enrolled in the PHMP - VRP - or...
Marijuana Impaired Drivers — The DRE Revisited — Costs
In recent weeks, the New Jersey Legislature has identified cannabis-impaired drivers, which will require training hundreds of new Drug Recognition Experts -- as a cost that is potentially crippling to smaller municipalities. Several New Jersey Municipal Court...
Possible defenses to alleged drug crimes
An arrest based on alleged criminal conduct can be detrimental to anyone's future. However, in Pennsylvania medical professionals who are licensed by the state may face the loss of their right to practice if they are convicted of certain crimes. While individuals in...
Physician Employment Contracts and License Disciplinary Actions
I spend a majority of my time helping medical professionals secure and keep their professional license. Recently, a physician contacted me to discuss his group practice employment contract and his hospitalist job. Reviewing his employment contract enlightened me on...
Addiction may be a problem for many U.S. nurses
According to data offered by a national psychological magazine, around one out of every 10 American nurses suffers from a substance abuse disorder or struggles with addiction. This is apparently close to the average statistic of everyday men and women outside of the...
Helping you protect your medical license from drug allegations
A person can spend years and even decades of their lifetime working toward a specific career goal: practicing medicine. After they complete their educational training they may have to sign on for a lengthy residency where their knowledge and skills are put to the test...
Actress indicted on felony drug charges
Actress, Rose McGowan, is a popular figure for fans of the show "Charmed" and an advocate for women's rights in the prominent #MeToo movement. However, readers of this Philadelphia legal blog may have recently seen her name in the news due to serious criminal...